Title: Learning and Development Specialist Journey (Limited Term)
Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899
Minimum Pay Rate: $105,456.00
Maximum Pay Rate: $139,651.20
Civil Service Status: Non-Civil Service
Apply by Date: 10/27/2026
Posting Type: Open
This posting intends to fill a one (1) year limited term position and establish an eligibility list which may be used to fill future regular full-time and limited-term vacancies.
SMUD's DEIB, Learning, & Sustainable Communities department is excited to recruit for a limited term Learning & Development Specialist (Journey) on the Career Development & Learning team. This is an excellent opportunity for a well-rounded learning professional passionate about building effective, engaging employee development experiences and strengthening enterprise-wide workforce readiness, leadership capability, compliance, and organizational performance.
About the Role:
This position requires expertise in both classroom/leader-led training and instructional design for digital and blended learning environments. The successful candidate will play a critical role in the end-to-end design, development, delivery, administration, and evaluation of SMUD's learning initiatives.
Key Responsibilities:
Instructor-Led and Classroom Learning:
- Develop and deliver engaging, effective instructor-led training (ILT) programs for in-person and virtual classrooms.
- Apply adult learning principles to create leadership and professional development experiences that build capability across all levels of the organization.
- Facilitate, evaluate, and continuously improve training outcomes using best practices in adult learning and feedback collection.
Instructional Design for Digital & Blended Learning:
- Design, develop, implement, and continuously improve high-quality eLearning modules and virtual training solutions.
- Incorporate technology, multimedia, and interactivity to drive engagement and achieve learning objectives for diverse audiences.
- Administer, manage, and optimize the Learning Management System (LMS), ensuring seamless training assignments, tracking, reporting, and compliance.
Industry Standards & Stakeholder Collaboration:
- Ensure all content aligns with current instructional design best practices, accessibility standards (e.g., Section 508), and relevant regulations (e.g., OSHA, SCORM).
- Partner with subject matter experts, business leaders, external vendors, and other stakeholders to diagnose learning needs, implement solutions, and evaluate program impact.
- Support key initiatives including leadership development, system implementations, compliance, procurement, and technology adoption.
Why This Role Matters:
- This role is vital to sustaining progress on multiple strategic initiatives while maintaining core business continuity and workforce readiness. As organizational needs and technologies evolve, the Learning & Development Specialist will ensure both classroom and digital training solutions are impactful, accessible, and aligned with SMUD's strategic goals.
If you are skilled at both facilitating engaging classroom learning and creating innovative digital training, and you thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven environment, we encourage you to apply.
Purpose
Nature and Scope
This classification is comprised of two levels: Level E is the entry-level where incumbents are provided formal training and/or certification for progression to the journey-level of the classification. The incumbent is promoted/progressed to the journey level J upon successful completion of all training and/or certification requirements for the classification. Incumbents hired at the entry-level are required to successfully progress to the journey-level within 18 to 60 months, depending on the length of the training and/or certification program. If an employee is unsuccessful with progressing to the journey-level they will return to last class held or separate from SMUD.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develops and manages a wide array of learning and development programs, projects, services and systems that support and advance SMUD business strategies, and meet identified learning and development needs; coordinates efforts and resources across SMUD.
- Manages and delivers career development programs and services to include but not limited to individual employee, team, and peer career coaching services and training; career program management e.g., peer career program; also provides professional employee testing and assessment services, and develops and delivers career development tools
- Designs, develops, promotes and delivers internal online learning and development programs; performs technical requirements analysis, to design, and deliver multi-media trainings; coordinates closely with business unit representatives, end-users and the learning and development community to craft eLearning solutions for training, performance support, social collaboration and professional learning needs.
- Incorporates a variety of eLearning methodologies, including synchronous, asynchronous learning, social and other types of informal learning e.g., self-study tools, etc.; utilize a variety of software tools for eLearning training development and delivery.
- Manages external training programs and vendor relationships; evaluates the need for contracted vendor led training programs and vendor services on a cost-benefit basis; develops and evaluates requests for proposals RFP, helps select vendors, coordinates and manages work, develops and tracks budgets, analyzes variances, and resolves any contractor related issues to ensure successful program/service delivery; may also work directly with vendors to jointly develop and/or deliver course content.
- Partners with SMUD management teams, business unit representatives and more experienced colleagues to assist in evaluating and determining short and long-term learning and development needs based on analyses of business requirements, considering both internal organizational factors and external environmental conditions.
- Conducts business and employee performance analysis as an internal performance consultant by working with managers, supervisors and employees to determine performance needs, competencies and KSA knowledge, skill and ability gaps; Proactively identifies skill-related risks to the business and employee performance; Performs root-cause analysis of identified items and designs and delivers learning and development strategies to close gaps.
- Monitors metrics and measures to evaluate the quality, cost and impact of learning and development programs and services; Identifies improvement opportunities and makes timely adjustments to optimize service quality and overall costs.
- Stays current in profession through maintaining professional memberships, relationships, online education and research, peer networking, and by participating in professional educational and association conferences, seminars, courses and other events.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Required Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
Required Experience
- Three + years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in training,learning/development, needs assessment, instructional design, learning program development and delivery, and evaluation and measurement.
Knowledge Of
Skills To
Desirable Qualifications
- Certification/training in instructional design (e.g., ADDIE), or industry-recognized certifications through the Association for Talent Development's CPTD and/or APTD certification; or related SHRM certification(s).
- Experience with LMS platforms, including Cornerstone LMS, e-learning tools such as Articulate, Camtasia, and Vyond, and other learning technologies including Microsoft Office and SharePoint.• Experience managing training and LMS administration for enterprise technology system implementations, including associated training project management, and workstream coordination.
- Experience designing, delivering, and evaluating learning programs in a corporate setting, both in-person and virtual formats, including leadership development and enterprise-wide training initiatives for adult learners.
- Knowledge of instructional design principles and rapid development methods, including ADDIE.
- Strong project, event, and vendor management skills, including budgeting, scheduling, and RFP development; process or project management certification or coursework preferred.
- Ability to assess business needs, identify skill gaps, recommend learning solutions, and measure training effectiveness using metrics and feedback.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to present to leadership, influence stakeholders, and adapt to changing priorities.
- BA/BS degree in Adult Education, Public or Business Administration, Psychology or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is highly desirable. Successful completion of a formal apprenticeship program or equivalent can be substituted for a BA/BS degree in operations business groups.
- Master's degree in Adult Education, Business/Public Administration, HR, Organizational Development, or related field.
Physical Requirements
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are
As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California?
The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
Hybrid Work
This position may be eligible for SMUD's remote work employee benefit, the schedule of which will be determined by the successful candidate and the Hiring Manager. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.
CalPERS
SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.